Transport paralysed on Marigat-Nakuru road as residents protest two murders

Transport was paralysed for the better part of Wednesday morning until the afternoon after angry residents barricaded the Marigat-Nakuru road at Nato.

The protests followed the killing of two people, both lorry drivers, who were shot dead two days ago at Loberer area on the Marigat-Chemolingot road while heading to Nginyang market.

One of the drivers, Kipchirchir, who was killed on Monday morning while travelling in a police convoy when their lorry was attacked, hailed from Mogotio.

Mogotio residents used stones and lit tyres to block the road in protest over his death, demanding answers over the rising insecurity targeting traders along the highway.

According to them, this is not the first time such killings have occurred along the Marigat-Loruk road, with bandits now reportedly targeting traders and motorists.

Incidents of insecurity along the highway have increased in recent months, with three people having been killed along the Marigat-Chemolingot road in similar attacks.

Rosemary Ngutha, a motorist who was heading to Lake Bogoria, was forced to spend six hours on the road after demonstrators barricaded it.

The situation was the same for many other motorists, some of whom were forced to use the Emening-Tenges-Kabarnet route, which is double the distance.

Baringo County Commissioner and the county security team had to intervene to convince the demonstrators to reopen the road.

The residents agreed to open the highway after assurance that they would meet with political leaders on Friday to address the insecurity concerns.

Police have since intensified road patrols along the Marigat-Chemolingot road, with vehicles now being escorted between the two towns.